Conveyors

ABSTRACT

A variable speed conveyor on which passengers or goods are accelerated or decelerated between high-speed zones and low-speed zones, the conveyor comprising pairs of complementary curved elements arranged to slide relative to one another.

United States Patent Inventor Hugh L. Folkes St. Leonards-On-Sea,England 5,490

Jan. 26, 1970 Nov. 23, 1971 The Dunlop Company Limited London, EnglandGreat Britain Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee Priority CONVEYORS 10Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

us. cu...- 198/110 865g 21/12 1 1m nova 2' l 2 v I References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 800,783 10/1905 Adkins et a1 198/1 10 X 1,973,7509/1934 De Kay .1 198/181 X 3,433,176 3/1969 Fujita 104/25 X FOREIGNPATENTS 1,127,433 9/1968 Great Britain 198/110 Primary Examiner-RichardE. Aegerter Assistant ExaminerHadd S. Lane Anorney-Stevens, Davis,Miller & Mosher ABSTRACT: A variable speed conveyor on which passengersor goods are accelerated or decelerated between high-speed zones andlow-speed zones, the conveyor comprising pairs of complementary curvedelements arranged to slide relative to one another.

the conveyor having high- CONVEYORS This invention relates to conveyorsand in particular to variable speed conveyors for the carrying ofpassengers or goods.

It has been proposed to form a variable speed conveyor from a pluralityof oblong rectangular plates or platforms held adjacent to one another,when carrying passengers or goods, and slow-speed zones. The meandirection of travel of the conveyor in the slow-speed zone is normal tothe longitudinal axis of the platforms or plates. To increase speed, theplatforms slide in relation to one another along their long sides andthe mean direction of travel of the conveyor is altered, being at anangle to the longitudinal axis of the platforms, the angle beingdependent upon the extent of relative sliding of the platforms. Todecrease speed from the fastto the slow speed, the sliding movement anddirection of travel is the opposite to that described above.

According to the invention, a variable speed conveyor comprises aplurality of pairs of elongated conveyor elements, each element havingtwo long side edges and two shorter side edges, the elements of eachpair being capable of being arranged in sliding edge-to-edge engagementwith each other to form a load-carrying surface, one element of eachpair having a convex curved long side edge, the other element of eachpair having a concave curved long side edge for sliding engagement withsaid convex side edge.

The invention will be understood by the following description of certainembodiments, by way of example, in conjunction with the accompanyingdiagrammatic drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a short section of a conveyor,illustrating pairs of conveyor elements, and with one element separatedto illustrate a jointing device;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a conveyor illustrating the transition fromslow speed to high speed;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conveyor system using a conveyor inaccordance with the present invention in combination with embarking anddisembarking belts or conveyors;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a conveyor system using a belt conveyor as themain conveyor and conveyors in accordance with the present invention asembarking and disembarking conveyor s, and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a horizontal turn round of a conveyor inaccordance with the present invention, and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a horizontal bend.

As seen in FIG. I, a conveyor 10 comprises pairs of conveyor elements 11and 12. Each element, which is in the form of a platform, is ofelongated or oblong plan form with short and long sides. Considering onepair of elements 11 and 12 each element has short sides Band 14. Ofthelong sides, each element has one straight long side 15. These straightlong sides slidingly cooperate with similar straight long sides ofadjacent pairs of elements. Each element also has a curved long side,one element, [1 in the present example, having a concave long side 16and the other element I2 having a convex long side 17. The curvatures ofthe sides 16 and 17 are the same and the two sides 16 and I7 slidinglycooperate.

The platforms are-supported by any convenient means, for example wheelsor rollers, not shown, running on a flat surface. The elements areguided by guide wheels 20 and 21 mounted beneath the elements to rotateabout vertical axes. In the example illustrated two guide wheels 20 aremounted on each element 12, toward each short side 13 and 14, while oneguide wheel 21 is mounted on each element 11. The guide wheels 20 and 21engage with guide rails 22and 23 respectively. If desired, one guidewheel can be provided for each element, at opposite ends.

The platforms are connected at the straight long sides by hinge meanscomprising tubular hinge members 24 at each end of the side 15 ofelement 12 and a tubular hinge member 25 at the center of the side 15 ofelement 11. A pivot pin 26 passes through the hinge members 24 and 25.The hinge permits movement of one element relative to another about ahorizontal axis. Also the axial length of the hinge member 25 is lessthan the gap between hinge members 24, permitting relative sidewayssliding of elements 11 relative to elements 12.

The elements, or platforms, may be driven by various means. For exampletoothed racks (not shown) may be attached to the under surface of eachelement, and engaged by toothed wheels positioned where the elements areso relatively positioned that the racks are in alignment, for example atthe low-speed zone. Other forms of driving means can readily beprovided.

The elements, or platforms, are also slidingly connected on their curvedlong sides by suitable joints, for example dove-tail joints as indicatedat 27. Various forms of sliding connection between the elements of apair can be provided, and the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1 is byway of example only.

FIG. 2 illustrates the variation in relative positions of elements, orplatforms, as the conveyor passes through the transition from the slowspeed zone to the high-speed zone. In FIG. 2, the conveyor is movingfrom left to right. As the platforms 11 and 12 move, the guide-rails 22and 23 (FIG. 1) by engagement with the guide wheels 20 and 21 (FIG. 1)cause lateral sliding of the platforms relative to each other. Becauseof the curved sides 16 and 17, this lateral sliding results in theplatfonns taking up an inclined position, as the relative sliding of oneelement of a pair relative to the other, along the curved long sides,produces an angular variation in the attitude of the platforms. Thecombined sliding on the straight long sides and on the curved long sidesenables the platforms to move from a position at which they extendnormal to the direction of movement at the slow zone, to a position atwhich the platforms extend at an inclination to the direction ofmovement, at the high-speed zone. The elements, or platforms, of eachpair have their short sides level at the slow speed zone and at thehigh-speed zone. Also the long sides of the elements are parallel at theslow speed zone and at the high-speed zone. Between these zones occursthe related sliding and turning and in the transition zone, the longsides of the elements of a pair are not parallel, the relativeinclination varying along the zone from a minimum to a maximum and backto a minimum. The actual width of the conveyor for passengers isindicated by lines 29, which, for example could be handrails and supportpanels.

FIG. 3 illustrates a conveyor system in which the main conveyor 30 is ofplatforms, of the form of FIG. I, and loading, and unloading, of themain conveyor 30 is by belt conveyors 31 and 32. The belt 31 is theloading belt, and access is provided at 33. Depending on whether themain conveyor 30 is at the same level, as the access 33, or higher orlower, the access can be a level platform or a ramp or stairs. The belt31 moves at a constant speed, corresponding to the speed of conveyor 30at its slow speed zone.

Belt 32 also moves at a constant speed corresponding to the speed ofconveyor 30 at its slow-speed zone and an exit 34 is provided, being alevel platform, ramp or stairs as required.

It may be desirable to provide a safety exit for the loading belt 31.Thus for passengers, if the main conveyor 30 is very crowded, passengersunable to move on the main conveyor 30 can move off the belt 31 by anexit 35.

A deceleration zone 36 occurs before loading belts 30 and 31, belts 30and 31.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative arrangement, in which a main,high-speed, conveyor 40 is of belt form. The main conveyor 40 moves at aconstant high speed and loading and unloading, of the conveyor 40 is bya conveyor 41 in accordance with the present invention. In thisinstance, the conveyor 41 is arranged to move round curves and comprisesa slow speed entry zone 42, an accelerator zone 43, a constant speedhighspeed zone 44, a deceleration zone 45 and a slow speed exit zone 46.The conveyor 41 is endless and at the end of the slow-speed zone 46 theplatforms rotate about a horizontal axis, turning through and return tothe slow-speed entry zone 42, following a path similar to that throughzones 45, 44 and 43. The high-speed zone moves at substantially the samespeed as the main conveyor 40.

the loading and unand an acceleration zone 37 after the FIG. 5illustrates an arrangement for the end of a conveyor, in which theplatforms move round a bend, in a horizontal plane, to return in anopposite direction. Conveyor 50 is moving at its high speed at 51, movesthrough a deceleration zone 52, passes round the curve 53 to anacceleration zone 54 and then to the return high-speed zone at 55. Exitand entry positions are provided at 56 and 57. These can comprisestationary platforms below which the conveyor moves, as in conventionalbelt conveyors and escalators. The radius of the curve 53 will dependupon the amount of relative movement between the elements of a pair andon the radius of curvature of the curved long sides of the elements orplatforms.

The particular construction of the conveyor enables horizontal curves tobe negotiated as well as vertical curves. This is illustrated in FIG. 6.It will be seen that relative lateral sliding between pairs of elements11 and 12 occurs as they, travel round the curve. Handrails and supportpanels which define the sides of the conveyor are indicated at 29, as inFIG. 2.

In a further embodiment, not illustrated, a conveyor system mayincorporate a main conveyor, having a high-speed zone and a low-speedzone, a first subsidiary conveyor of the kind illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2 positioned alongside the slowspeed zone of the main conveyor and asecond subsidiary conveyor of the kind illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2positioned alongside the high-speed zone of the main conveyor to provideentry to and exit from the high-speed zone of the main conveyor.

In another embodiment, not illustrated, a conveyor system may comprisetwo main constant-speed load-transporting conveyors arranged to travelat different speeds and at least one subsidiary conveyor comprising aconveyor of the kind illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 having a relativelylow-speed zone positioned adjacent the lower speed main conveyor and arelatively high-speed zone positioned alongside the higher speed mainconveyor.

The top surfaces of the platforms can be ribbed, to cooperate with combsat entry and exit, in the conventional manner. Conveyors in accordancewith the present invention can be used for conveying passengers and/orfreight, and the rate of acceleration, and deceleration, can be madesuitable for the particular use of the conveyor.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A variable speed conveyor, comprising: a plurality of pairs ofelongated conveyor elements, each element having two long side edges andtwo shorter side edges, one element of each pair having a convex curvedlong side edge, the other element of each pair having a complementaryconcave curved long side edge for sliding engagement with the saidconvex curved edge, the other long side of each element being straight;means for connecting the elements of each pair to permit lateral slidingofone element relative to the other along said curved sides; means forconnecting the pairs of elements to adjacent pairs at the straight longsides to permit lateral relative sliding of the adjacent elements ofadjacent pairs; and guide means for the elements mounted beneath theelements, the guide means controlling the lateral sliding of theelements and also including means to change the angle between thedirection of the straight side edges of the elements and the directionof the path of the conveyor in the variable speed portion of theconveyor so that the angle is smaller in the higher speed portion thanin the slower speed portion.

2. A conveyor as claimed in claim I, wherein the means connecting theelements of each pair comprises joint means permitting relative lateralsliding of the elements.

3. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for connectingthe pairs of elements to adjacent pairs comprises pivotal joint meanspermitting lateral sliding of the element of one pair relative to theadjacent element of the adjacent pair and also permitting rotation aboutan axis parallel to the straight long sides.

4. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1, the guide means comprising rails,and wheels mounted on the elements for cooperation with the rails.

5. A conveyor as claimed in claim I, at least part of the conveyor beingarranged so that the elements travel in a horizontal plane around abend.

6. A conveyor system for conveying loads, comprising; a main loadtransporting conveyor and at least one subsidiary conveyor for providingentry to, and exit from, said main eonveyor, the main conveyorcomprising a conveyor as claimed in claim 1, and having at least onehigh-speed zone, and at least one slow-speed zone, the subsidiaryconveyor positioned alongside the slow-speed zone of the main conveyor.

7. A conveyor system according to claim 6, comprising a secondsubsidiary conveyor to provide entry to and exit from the high-speedzone of the main conveyor.

8. A conveyor system for conveying loads comprising; a mainconstant-speed load-transporting conveyor and at least one subsidiaryconveyor for providing entry to, and exit from said main conveyor, thesubsidiary conveyor comprising a conveyor as claimed in claim 1, andhaving a first low-speed zone, a high-speed zone, and a second low-speedzone, the high-speed zone positioned alongside the main conveyor.

9. A conveyor system for conveying loads comprising two mainconstant-speed load-transporting conveyors arranged to travel atdifferent speeds and at least one subsidiary conveyor comprising aconveyor as claimed in claim I, having a relatively low-speed zonepositioned alongside the lower speed main conveyor and a relativelyhigh-speed zone positioned alongside the higher speed main conveyor.

10. A conveyor system for conveying loads, comprising; a conveyor asclaimed in claim I, the conveyor having at least one main high-speedsection, and at least a low-speed section, and platform means extendingover the conveyor at the lowspeed zone for entry on to, and exit from,the conveyor.

1. A variable speed conveyor, comprising: a plurality of pairs ofelongated conveyor elements, each element having two long side edges andtwo shorter side edges, one element of each pair having a convex curvedlong side edge, the other element of each pair having a complementaryconcave curved long side edge for sliding engagement with the saidconvex curved edge, the other lonG side of each element being straight;means for connecting the elements of each pair to permit lateral slidingof one element relative to the other along said curved sides; means forconnecting the pairs of elements to adjacent pairs at the straight longsides to permit lateral relative sliding of the adjacent elements ofadjacent pairs; and guide means for the elements mounted beneath theelements, the guide means controlling the lateral sliding of theelements and also including means to change the angle between thedirection of the straight side edges of the elements and the directionof the path of the conveyor in the variable speed portion of theconveyor so that the angle is smaller in the higher speed portion thanin the slower speed portion.
 2. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1,wherein the means connecting the elements of each pair comprises jointmeans permitting relative lateral sliding of the elements.
 3. A conveyoras claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for connecting the pairs ofelements to adjacent pairs comprises pivotal joint means permittinglateral sliding of the element of one pair relative to the adjacentelement of the adjacent pair and also permitting rotation about an axisparallel to the straight long sides.
 4. A conveyor as claimed in claim1, the guide means comprising rails, and wheels mounted on the elementsfor cooperation with the rails.
 5. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1, atleast part of the conveyor being arranged so that the elements travel ina horizontal plane around a bend.
 6. A conveyor system for conveyingloads, comprising; a main load transporting conveyor and at least onesubsidiary conveyor for providing entry to, and exit from, said mainconveyor, the main conveyor comprising a conveyor as claimed in claim 1,and having at least one high-speed zone, and at least one slow-speedzone, the subsidiary conveyor positioned alongside the slow-speed zoneof the main conveyor.
 7. A conveyor system according to claim 6,comprising a second subsidiary conveyor to provide entry to and exitfrom the high-speed zone of the main conveyor.
 8. A conveyor system forconveying loads comprising; a main constant-speed load-transportingconveyor and at least one subsidiary conveyor for providing entry to,and exit from said main conveyor, the subsidiary conveyor comprising aconveyor as claimed in claim 1, and having a first low-speed zone, ahigh-speed zone, and a second low-speed zone, the high-speed zonepositioned alongside the main conveyor.
 9. A conveyor system forconveying loads comprising two main constant-speed load-transportingconveyors arranged to travel at different speeds and at least onesubsidiary conveyor comprising a conveyor as claimed in claim 1, havinga relatively low-speed zone positioned alongside the lower speed mainconveyor and a relatively high speed zone positioned alongside thehigher speed main conveyor.
 10. A conveyor system for conveying loads,comprising; a conveyor as claimed in claim 1, the conveyor having atleast one main high-speed section, and at least a low-speed section, andplatform means extending over the conveyor at the low-speed zone forentry on to, and exit from, the conveyor.